The Dodgers conclude their road trip with three games against the Cardinals in St. Louis. Here is a look at the schedule and probable starting pitching matchups for the weekend series.
Friday, 5:15 p.m. PT (SportsNet LA)
Brandon McCarthy has 22 strikeouts and four walks in 16 innings since returning from the disabled list, allowing no runs in two of his three starts. Right-handed batters are 4-for-37 (.108) with two walks and 15 strikeouts against McCarthy this season.
The Dodgers tagged Michael Wacha for six runs at Dodger Stadium on May 13, the start of a five-start skid that saw him allow 27 runs in 23 innings. But since then, Wacha has a 3.35 ERA in his last seven starts, with 39 strikeouts and 13 walks in 42 innings.
Saturday, 4:15 p.m. (SportsNet LA)
Kenta Maeda looks to rebound from allowing a season-worst five runs on Sunday, now facing the Cardinals for the first time. This will be a lucrative start for Maeda, who will receive $1 million for making his 20th start and once he's able to complete two innings will earn another $250,000 for reaching 110 innings on the season.
Mike Leake had 66 strikeouts in 104 innings in his first 17 starts, a 15-percent strikeout rate. But he enters this weekend with consecutive double-digit strikeout starts, giving him four total such games in his career. With 21 strikeouts and two walks in 13 innings in those two starts, Leake has a 1.38 ERA to go with his 42-percent strikeout rate.
Sunday, 5:05 p.m. (ESPN)
Scott Kazmir is coming off one of his best starts of the year, with eight strikeouts and no walks, allowing just a run while reaching seven innings. He has a 2.25 ERA in three July starts, with 23 strikeouts and just three walks in 16 innings.
The Cardinals haven't yet announced their Sunday starter. The spot came open with Tuesday's rainout, which moved Carlos Martinez up to Wednesday to pitch in a doubleheader, taking him out of commission for Sunday unless the club wants to start him on short rest.
The #Cardinals are not contemplating bringing Carlos Martinez or Jaime Garcia back on short rest to pitch Sunday vs. LAD.
— Mark Saxon (@markasaxon) July 21, 2016
Top #Cardinals prospect Alex Reyes is pitching in the third inning for Memphis so it looks like Sunday starter vs LAD will be Tyler Lyons
— Mark Saxon (@markasaxon) July 22, 2016
Lyons, a 28-year-old left-hander, has a 3.54 ERA in 27 games in relief for St. Louis this season, with 42 strikeouts and 12 walks in 40⅔ innings. He faced two batters, throwing 10 pitches on Wednesday, his only outing since the All-Star break.
Lyons has had four relief appearances of at least three innings this season, topping out at 4⅔ on June 25.